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Superstar
@O.iatlhawksfan @ReturnOfJudah who y’all want for your next coach. Will have the pick of the litter pretty much
The Official 2025 College Football Random Thoughts Thread
- Thread starter Silkk
- Start date
holy shyt
we're some serious cfb fans...but not "I went to New England College vs. Maine Maritime College" hardcore. This write up is fukking comedy:
we're some serious cfb fans...but not "I went to New England College vs. Maine Maritime College" hardcore. This write up is fukking comedy:
there are levels to this shyt. we are fans...and there are cfb sickosNo, not Rutgers vs Purdue. Yesterday I made my way up to Henniker NH, "the only Henniker on Earth," to witness New England College host Maine Maritime. These schools, members of the D-III Conference of New England, are both in their first full season back after hiatus. Maine Maritime last played in 2019, while New England College was playing their first season in over 5 decades. Both teams came into the game with identical 0-6 records, and Bill Connelly's SP+ rankings had them 765th and 766th out of 766 teams for most of the season (sadly, Oberlin College dropped below both schools prior to this week). Regardless, this momentous game deserves a game recap.
I arrived about 20 minutes before the game to NEC's makeshift stadium on a former rugby field. It was hard to find info online about where the game was being played, as any links on NEC's website were either broken or talking about the new turf field they'd be playing on next season. Eventually, I stumbled by accident on what I thought was parking for the game. It turns out it was handicap only parking, but the people at the booth were able to point me in the right direction of free downtown parking and the field. Though I paid $10 for my ticket, nobody checked and I was able to walk right in.
The vibe was very much that of a high school game. There was no alcohol allowed in the stadium, but there was a small food truck selling concerningly cheap hot dogs and concerningly expensive walking tacos. I got some surprisingly well seasoned waffle fries and started to make my way around the field. There was one small bleacher on one side of the stadium, and the rest of the crowd mostly hung around the chain link fence surrounding the field. All told I'd estimate there were about 250 people in attendance. A gravel path surrounded the fence. Maine Maritime had a makeshift locker room behind one of the end zones, which was a tent next to a couple porta potties (leading to this incredible picture I took during halftime). NEC's makeshift locker room was a slightly-larger tent on a baseball field behind Maine Maritime's sideline. Though the field was small, you can't beat the views of New England in the fall.
About 6 minutes prior to kickoff, the Grims (the seemingly preferred nickname of the New England College Pilgrims) ran out onto the field to a heavily censored version of bytches Love Sosa. Maine Maritime ran out through a gate in the fenceI was unknowingly standing next to, so I had to get out of the way. The players had to open the gate themselves before the game and during halftime, so I felt kinda bad for them. A Maine Maritime fan fistbumped the team on their way in and said "Go Blue" to all of them, but it seemed "Go White" was what most of the fans went with throughout the game. I ended up standing by one of the dugouts, by a girl with a very excited puppy and two different guys with broken fingers. There was also for some reason a Pitt Superfan at the game. I'm talking Pitt jersey, Pitt hat, Pitt scarf, and attached to his belt a Pitt hockey mask.
The National Anthem was a recording played over the loudspeaker that cut off the first 5-6 notes. But with that out of the way, it was time to start the game. The Grims kicked off first, and their kicker #97 was listed at a hydrantesque 5'7, 225. His opening kickoff was fair caught at the 33 yard line close to the sideline. Maine Maritime marched quickly down the field (despite burning a timeout after their second play). The Mariners got a first and goal, but NEC was able to stop them 4 times in a row (then they played the Chop over the loudspeaker?????)
NEC's listed running backs online were named Fire Anderson and Icean Taylor. I say listed, because Fire played mostly on special teams and Icean was primarily the QB as they ran a triple option playbook. Still, the names are either an incredible coincidence or, as I choose to believe, these guys were recruited for the cool factor. Icean (pronounced eye-Sean) was electric. He ran in a long touchdown to open the scoring in the first quarter.
With Maine Maritime driving again, the first quarter ended at 12:24 PM. UCLA-Indiana, another 12:00 start, still had 10:48 to go in the quarter at the time. On the first play of Q2, a Maine Maritime receiver made an acrobatic TD catch, but it was sadly called off due to an ineligible man downfield. They opted to take the points this time, and they kicked a shaky but successful field goal. New England College then quickly marched down the field again themselves, but just like their opponent, they got stuffed on 4th and goal from the 2. On the Mariners' very next play, they ran an electric 98 yard touchdown, captured on video with credit to the Sickos Committee on Bluesky. You can even see me in the video! Maine Maritime (or Maine, as the PA announcer kept calling them) was so excited that they got a sideline warning. Their 10-7 lead held until halftime, which was at 1:00 exactly.
During halftime, the winner of the 50/50 raffle was announced, and the $326 winner was invited up to the press box to claim their prize. They also announced that there were to be 6 on campus sporting events next week, including field hockey, women's lacrosse, men's and women's soccer, and women's ice hockey, which mostly just begs the question of what the 6th event is and why it didn't make it into the announcement. The refs eventually ran back onto the field, one of them holding a clipboard which said "Please return to the science lab" on the back, and the second half was ready to begin. Maine Maritime's opening kickoff went out of bounds, but it was at like the 11 yard line so that made it the best kick of the day!
The two teams traded long but ultimately unsuccessful drives for most of the second half. Icean started throwing the ball, mostly on third downs, but he looked alright! Early in the 4th, NEC was stopped on 4th and goal from the 5 when a field goal would have tied it, so either they have a very aggressive coach or they do not trust their kicker at all. On their next drive, they brought out their usual starting QB instead of Icean, so either he did something to get benched or they decided they needed to actually throw the ball. Regardless, it worked, and they took the lead with about 3 minutes to spare. Icean was back out for the PAT, which made me think they were going to go for two, but they didn't
Pressure was on the defense now if the Grims wanted their first win. And their job wasn't easy, as Maine Maritime started their drive at the opposing 40 yard line thanks to a lousy kick, an offsides on the kicking team, and an unnecessary roughness penalty because a NEC player body slammed the returner long after the whistle. But after three quick stops, the defense had a chance to come off the field. With the players on the sideline jumping up and down and singing Seven Nation Army, NEC got the stop they needed and all but clinched the game. As the clock hit zero, the PA announcer congratulated the New England College Pilgrims on their first win in 51 years, although subsequent online research shows it might have been upwards of 70 years. Either way, we witnessed something historic.
So what did we learn? Well, as it turns out, a terrible college football game just feels like an ordinary high school game. But I got to hang out with a cool dog and see some pretty leaves, so I'd say it was 2 hours and 15 minutes well spent.
if i'm penn st i go after brian kelly vs fumbling with a rhule/fleck hire...not a home run hire but still a really good coach who will keep them stable and is familiar with the region.
if i'm lsu i pull rank on florida and go after lane kiffin.
florida should be happy with a james franklin but probably not a cultural fit...maybe he rehabs at another lower tier B1G program (MSU/NEB/UCLA).
if i'm lsu i pull rank on florida and go after lane kiffin.
florida should be happy with a james franklin but probably not a cultural fit...maybe he rehabs at another lower tier B1G program (MSU/NEB/UCLA).
Brian Kelly is not good enough to make any positive impact at Penn State. he has identical results to James Franklin.
Brian Kelly should go to WISCONSIN. He is that level.
Not that I disagree but..... ok then hire Matt Rhule.
Rigby.
The #1 Rated Mixtape of all Time
people sleeping on Brent Key as a candidate. He should get inquiries for Florida, Wisconsin, or Penn State
If you think thats premature, fine, but he has had winning seasons at GT and is currently undefeated and top ten there, and was a solid assistant at alabama.
Damn good coach but he not leaving his alma mater to go out of region and be fed to rabid wolf fanbases with unrealistic expectations IMO.
staticshock
Veteran
He’s only leaving tech for an NFL gig
he definitely will lol. The list of coaches who are 'never leaving their alma mater' to go to a top tier job is countless
DropTopDoc
Smokin my Opps like Patrick Mahomes pops
What a mf time
Rigby.
The #1 Rated Mixtape of all Time
We’re def gonna end up retaining Hugh bc all the other programs with bread got a leg up on talking to their guy. Meanwhile this pervert and his booster buddies got a leg up in some poor stripper who ain’t getting paid enough for those flabby c*nts 
We really about to be ass for a decade
We really about to be ass for a decade